Day three: A most pure trail magic

Although it rained again last night it wasn’t raining when I got up: happy camper. The worst of the damage was the mud that caked onto my tent footprint. I washed it off in the creek when I filtered water in the morning. I took my first break a couple miles down the trail at Jarrad Gap but found Slaughter creek to be a good water source and I filled up there with enough to get me to Flatrock Gap. I ended up having enough water for the rest of the day.

I climbed Blood Mountain and for being notoriously tall, the tallest on the Georgia section, it was NOT the worst climb so far. Many hikers agreed with me that Sassafras was harder. That being said, the views at the top were breathtaking and well worth it! I stopped and had lunch to savor the experience. Caboose (Molly) was there so we chatted during lunch and hiked down Blood Mountain together.

When we got to Neels Gap, her crew from Virginia was there and settled in but Mountains Crossings said the beds were full! To say that this was a major heart-breaker is an understatement. I was looking forward to a shower and bunk. Just as we were finding this bad news out, two ladies came up and said they noticed us coming out of the woods. They voluntarily gave up their beds/shower for us. They wouldn’t even let us pay! Apparently they had a car and all they really wanted was a shower and to leave. Apparently the staff was moved and let them use the showers for their generosity so everyone ended up happy. That was the most pure, heart warming trail magic.

The same ladies even gave Kringle a shuttle to and from a gas station and he came back packing beer for whomever wanted it. I abstained but did enjoy a frozen pizza, which the store cooks for you, and topped the night off with a snickers bar and a Powerade.

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A Florida resident, Josh has backpacked in Florida and Alabama prior to committing to the Appalachian Trail. As a graphic designer and former competitive gamer (Major League Gaming), the outdoor trails are a reprieve from all things digital and a sanctuary to recharge creative energy. Rather than make this just a personal experience, his desire is to make each step across the countryside benefit a worthy cause touching the lives of other people in a positive way. To that end, Josh founded the #HikeWithHeart movement while preparing to hike the Georgia section of the Appalachian trail in 2017, backpacking the first 80+ miles ever walked to support Hearts of Many Colors, a community mission in Haiti. Follow me on social media @designpassion